Information outputting method, information processing apparatus, and storage medium

Abstract

An information processing apparatus acquires operation information of a plurality of devices. The information processing apparatus specifies a function of a second device that is not operated in a case where the function of the second device corresponding to a function operated in a first device is not operated based on the operation information and function information in which common functions are associated with each other out of functions of each of the plurality of devices in advance. The information processing apparatus outputs information regarding the specified function of the second device. The plurality of devices is divided into a plurality of categories. In the specifying, the function of the second device belonging to the same category as that of the first device is specified with priority.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An information outputting method, wherein
 a computer executes   acquiring operation information of a plurality of devices;   specifying a function of a second device that is not operated in a case where the function of the second device corresponding to a function operated in a first device is not operated based on the operation information and function information in which common functions are associated with each other out of functions of each of the plurality of devices in advance; and   outputting information regarding the specified function of the second device,   the plurality of devices is divided into a plurality of categories, and   in the specifying, the function of the second device belonging to the same category as the category of the first device is specified with priority.   
     
     
         2 . The information outputting method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the function information is information in which the functions of the plurality of devices having a common attribute are associated with each another.   
     
     
         3 . The information outputting method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 in the specifying, even when the function of the second device corresponding to the function operated in the first device is operated, in a case where a frequency is smaller than a predetermined threshold, the function of the second device is regarded to be not operated.   
     
     
         4 . The information outputting method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 in the outputting, an instruction to operate the function of the second device corresponding to the function operated in the first device is transmitted to the second device.   
     
     
         5 . The information outputting method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 in a case where a new device is installed in an environment in which the plurality of devices is installed, the function information is updated based on information regarding the new device.   
     
     
         6 . The information outputting method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 in the outputting, the information regarding the specified function of the second device is provided to a user, and   it is determined whether to specify the function of the second device belonging to the same category as the category of the first device with priority or specify the function of the second device belonging to a category different from the category of the first device with priority according to a frequency at which the function of the second device is used by the user.   
     
     
         7 . The information outputting method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 in the specifying, the function of the second device installed in the vicinity of the first device is specified with priority further based on information indicating a position in which the plurality of devices is installed.   
     
     
         8 . The information outputting method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the function information includes information regarding a function of a third device that is not installed in the environment in which the plurality of devices is installed or information regarding a function not installed in the second device, and   in the specifying, in a case where the function of the third device or the function not introduced into the second device corresponding to the function operated in the first device is specified, in the outputting, information regarding introduction of the third device or information regarding introduction of the function not introduced into the second device is provided to a user.   
     
     
         9 . An information processing apparatus, comprising:
 an acquisition unit structured to acquire operation information of a plurality of devices;   a specifier structured to specify a function of a second device that is not operated in a case where the function of the second device corresponding to a function operated in a first device is not operated based on the operation information and function information in which common functions are associated with each other out of functions of each of the plurality of devices in advance; and   an outputter structured to output information regarding the specified function of the second device, wherein   the plurality of devices is divided into a plurality of categories, and   the specifier specifies the function of the second device belonging to the same category as the category of the first device with priority.   
     
     
         10 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program structured to cause a computer to execute
 acquiring operation information of a plurality of devices;   specifying a function of a second device that is not operated in a case where the function of the second device corresponding to a function operated in a first device is not operated based on the operation information and function information in which common functions are associated with each other out of functions of each of the plurality of devices in advance; and   outputting information regarding the specified function of the second device, wherein   the plurality of devices is divided into a plurality of categories, and   in the specifying, the function of the second device belonging to the same category as the category of the first device is specified with priority.